The Research Network on Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
The Research Network Zoonotic Infectious Diseases was founded in 2017 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
The core element consists of seven consortia and six junior research groups selected by external reviewers.
In addition, smaller networking projects have been initiated that contribute to the internal networking between the consortia and junior research groups and deal with overarching, networking (research) topics.
Also important are the ÖGD projects, which are located at public health offices, veterinary offices or state health or veterinary offices. These are dedicated to current challenges from the ÖGD and the veterinary service and work on these as research questions - often in cooperation with one or more of the networks and junior research groups.
Main areas of research
Within the framework of the Research Network on Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, zoonoses research scientists throughout Germany work together in numerous subprojects on an interdisciplinary basis.
research priorities are:
Antibiotic resistance in the One Health context,
Campylobacter as a zoonotic pathogen,
Risk analysis of respiratory zoonoses using the example of MERS coronavirus,
Q fever, Bornavirus infection,
Toxoplasma gondii, vaccination strategies against zoonoses,
Zoonotic agents present in and transmitted by rodents or arthropods (several projects), zoonotic RNA viruses and tick-borne zoonotic agents
Coordination & activities
The Research Network Zoonotic Infectious Diseases is organisationally supported by a coordination project, which is located at the Charité in Berlin. Each network and junior research group is headed by a coordinator who is a member of the coordination group. The coordination circle also includes representatives of the ÖGD and the veterinary service as well as representatives of the ministries BMBF, BMEL, BMG and BMVg. The Coordination Committee meets four times a year. In addition, there is a retreat once a year where the entire research network meets. Current research results are presented at the annual zoonoses symposium. The Research Network on Zoonotic Infectious Diseases sees itself as part of the Zoonoses Platform.
Within the framework of the Research Network on Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, networking projects within the Research Network and ÖGD projects applied for from the ÖGD and the veterinary sector are funded. In addition to research collaborations within Germany, networking within the research network also takes place internationally - for example through funded research stays abroad.